Spy chief says ASIO’s new building security top notch

ASIO director-general, David Irvine, told a parliamentary budget estimates committee he wanted to assure the Australian public they could have full confidence the agency’s computer networks were secure.
Photo: Andrew Meares

Mr Irvine also told a parliamentary budget estimates committee he wanted to assure the Australian public they could have full confidence the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation’s computer networks were secure and the agency could protect sensitive information including information held on private individuals.

The Director General was responding to questioning from Greens Senator Scott Ludlam, who asked the security chief how the Australian public could trust ASIO to protect sensitive information given the hacking reports.

"Can I just assure you though, that I am satisfied that the security of the ASIO building is and will be meeting the very, very high standards that are required of a building of that nature."

But Mr Irvine said he could not comment on the Chinese hacking allegations because it would stray into “operational and intelligence matters’’.

"We incur all sorts of risks if intelligence operation matters are aired in public," he said.

The program reported a cyber intrusion against a site contractors computer systems was traced to a server in China, though Attorney General
Mark Dreyfus
has since insisted no contractor had access to the building blueprints.

China has described the report as “groundless’’.

The building’s construction is 12 months behind schedule and $170 million over budget.

Mr Irvine also told the committee protecting Australia from espionage and sabotage was a vital part of the organisation’s work and it worked closely with other intelligence agencies and departments to counter the growing cyber threat.

In a speech launching a Beauty of Tibet art exhibition at the Chinese embassy in Canberra on Wednesday night ambassador
Chen Yuming
did not directly refer to the ASIO controversy but said Bejing would pursue peaceful development and never seek hegemony or external expansion.